Describes what is customary in the market for sales and customer support.

To attain new customers and retain the older ones, good customer service is important as the majority of (82 percent) of Indian consumers value it the most while making a purchase.  It is also worth noting that Indian buyers often consider low acquisition costs when making a buying decision without realizing that some products may require costly maintenance contracts and downtime due to the lack of spare parts.  By comparison, U.S.-made equipment enjoys a reputation in India for premium quality, durability and low maintenance costs.  Customers expect high-quality service, especially as they focus on getting good value for money in a difficult economic environment. 

To compete with local and foreign suppliers, it is essential that your company consider how to: establish a system for after-sales support including hiring and training maintenance teams; set up a call center in some form staffed with knowledgeable technical personnel; have people ready to go on call and have parts on hand when replacements are needed.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.